When in Hershey...

I learned a lot about retailing after visiting the Hershey Spa at the Hotel Hershey this fall. I had a Cocoa Facial Experience, just about the fluffiest buffiest of the fluff n' buff facials. But I figured, while in Hershey, you get the Chocolate Facial.

First of all, you have to pay for the facial PLUS the mandatory 20% gratuity BEFORE your facial, before you even meet your esthetician. I'm sure they cater to many non-spa goers, maybe this is their way of making it easier for them? Well, ok, when in Rome.

After my nice facial with my nice tech, I talked to her about purchasing a product or two, after all, I wanted to take something home to use on my clients special for the holidays!

To her credit, she wrote down the products for me but after I made my way out to the lobby again, since I had already paid, the staff didn't even look at me, not even thanks for coming in!

Boy, what a lesson I learned! It reinforced the importance of taking the time after each treatment to talk to EVERY guest, to ask, "How are you doing on your products, here's what I recommend and why, is there anything else I can help you with?"

It doesn't take long (or much effort) to extend the feeling of being cared for past the treatment room--instead of being dropped like a hot potato at the check out desk!

I suppose I could have purchased my Hershey products from the website, but in the end, I made my own chocolate mint massage lotion...and my guests love it!

Keep on keepin' on, Sherry

Seattle Spa Day

Visiting my sister Karen up in Seattle, we did a full day of beauty starting with the:

Gene Juarez Signature Pedicure

I am notoriously hard to please when it comes to spa services. My technician was very nice and agreeable. The thing about pedicures is that a lot of the stuff they're doing to you, clipping, filing, picking, trimming--isn't very relaxing. When I have an aromatherapy eye pillow on my eyes (very nice, by the way), all sensory input is concentrated on the picking, filing, etc. Oh, and on the spa muzak.

Gene Juarez is a fancy space, very well designed. My regular nail place is a third of the price and nothing fancy in the design department. Long story short, I prefer my ladies at Natural Nails with the massaging chairs and trashy magazines.

Next, on to the make up counter at Macy's to get our make up touched up. The first person to approach me was a lady from the Benefit Counter. Having never used Benefit before, my first impression was that it was a bit...kitschy...all pink, plastic-y, old school. Fortunately, my make up person had a light hand (can't say the same for Karen's woman--ha ha!) and I bought a GET BENT LASH Mascara and a Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in R.S.V.P. and have been loading it on all week. LOVE IT!

On to Ananya Spa for facials and massages. I found them on Citysearch and was a little nervous going sight unseen, but it was every bit as cute as its website, in a very cool location near downtown Seattle. They had a special on Citysearch, a 1 hour facial and 1 hour massage for $155, so Karen and I both got one. We had different massage therapists, but agree that we will be back for massage as both were excellent and unique. I cried after my massage, not only because Kelly hurt me (in a good way), but BOY I needed it!

I made my appointment talking to the owner, she was very cool and let us do the Citysearch special even though I didn't print out the coupon. Apparently, she is also an esthetician and massage therapist--if she's working next time I'm in Seattle, I want to book a facial with her.

I have used Pevonia products before and liked them, they're just so heavy on the fragrance! Even if it is natural essential oils--a constant stream of heavily scented products is too overwhelming for me, even though I like what they do to my skin.

Another interesting thing, the place is very warm. No heavy blankets necessary here, just covered by a sheet. Neither good nor bad, just different! Kinda like doing a treatment in the tropics...

All in all, one of the girliest spa days on record. Karen and I spa regularly together and no matter where we go, the best thing about going to the spa is going with someone you love.